Membrane Organization and Lipid Rafts

Cell membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer, containing proteins that span the bilayer and/or interact with the lipids on either side of the two leaflets. Although recent advances in lipid analytics show that membranes in eukaryotic cells contain hundreds of different lipid species, the function of this lipid diversity remains enigmatic. The basic structure of cell membranes is the lipid bilayer, composed of two apposing leaflets, forming a two-dimensional liquid with fascinating properties designed to perform the functions cells require. To coordinate these functions, the bilayer has evolved the propensity to segregate its constituents laterally. This capability is based on dynamic liquid-liquid…

• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: TRR83, Transregio 83
• BF
  Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
• KT
  Klaus Tschira Stiftung
• ES
  European Social Fund